Moving is a simple affair that sometimes we choose to make difficult. The means of movement are many, the principles are few. We need to be aware of the unnatural ways we force our bodies to achieve our purposes.
The act of exerting strong will over our movement process weakens our physical and emotional structure. Voluntary surrender of our natural movement; degrades our organic functioning, destroys posture, deafens rhythm and cadence, defuses attention while reducing enjoyment of who we are and what we do.
It has been truly said that Kinetic activity is the Crown of the Senses.
Movement Power at its most basic is simply standing and stepping. The Ch’uanists of the Tai Chi School (Chinese experts in advanced body management and mechanics) jokingly remark that one needs only to stand and step, reminding us that it takes ten years to learn to stand…ten additional years to master stepping!
Standing and Stepping is relational. Relationship in Movement Power is a juxtaposition of opposites, standing and stepping, stillness and motion, relaxation and tension, fluidity and stability.
For those too busy to practice Tai Chi the following is a simple way to investigate Movement Power. Remember simple, not easy!
STAND LIKE A MOUNTAIN, FLOW LIKE A RIVER.
Stand like a mountain surrender yourself to the force of gravity, root to the earth core itself. Spine erect. Raise your headtop. Sink your tailbone and loosen your pelvis. Center your mind in or below the navel. Breath naturally. Be silent, concentrate and mentally attend. This is the foundation of standing…taking shape and form. Standing is the expression of potential (Stillness) the state of Wu Chi.
Flow like a river. Stepping adjusts your position in space bringing you closer to or farther from another object/event, controls the means of locomotion, and meters the speed of movement.
Beginning to step, all parts move together (relationship!) and flow ceaselessly. Turn with the motive power of the waist and legs; forget arms and torso. One leg alone bears the body weight. This is the foundation of movement. Stepping is the expression of the actual (action). This is Tai Chi. From Wu Chi to Tai Chi.
Remember RELAX ALWAYS/ENJOY.